Seventy-Third Annual Report 1203 



ments and activities, a chaos of ideas and suggestions, some 

 nostrums, some ideal but visionary, some practical and promising. 

 Here lies the opportunity and duty of this society. Annual con- 

 ventions such as this, devoted to thoughtful consideration of un- 

 solved problems that vitally affect all the people and are pressing 

 for proper solution, are sorely needed. Preparation for such con- 

 ventions means an immense amount of investigation and study 

 by the appropriate standing committees of our society, and the 

 necessity for funds to make effective their findings and sugges- 

 tions has been more than once pointed out. Some of these com- 

 mittees bring to us a proposed budget showing the amount of 

 funds in their judgment necessary to successfully prosecute this 

 work. I believe that the character of the work that this society 

 is doing, and ihe position it occupies in what might be called an 

 advisory capacity toward other agricultural agencies, fully justi- 

 fies state aid for its work under proper restriction and regulation 

 governing the expenditure of any funds appropriated. 



The solution of the economic problems to which we are giving 

 most attention would mean so much saving to our citizens as to 

 warrant state recognition. Hundreds of thousands are appropri- 

 ated annually to teach our farmers to grow more crops. Why not 

 spend a few thousand in solving the distributing and marketing 

 problems to the mutual advantage of both farmer and city dweller ? 



The C^ommittco on the Development of Agricultural Resources 

 has a broad field for observation, and brings us, as always, a 

 valuable and suggestive report. In line with its work was the 

 address and discussion on drainage matters given at our session 

 this afternoon. There is little doubt that thorough drainage under 

 a well-defined system would mean as much in increased produc- 

 tion of New York State lands as has irrigation to the soils of 

 some western states. This state has many undeveloped agri- 

 cultural resources and possibilities which it is the business of this 

 committee to bring to our attention with their suggestions as to 

 development or conservation. 



Bearing in mind our general topic of last year, ^' closer rela- 

 tions between the producer and consumer," it was to be expected 

 that our reports this year from our Committee on Marketing, 

 Transportation and Grievances, and the Committee on Coopera- 



